In the life cycle rituals of the Raglai people, Bo Ma ceremony is considered as the most important event, which is the eternal farewell rite between the living and the dead, so that the dead can return to the eternal world.

According to the Raglai ethnic people, the soul relationship between the dead and the living still exists until the Bo Ma ceremony is performed. Therefore, during this time, family members have to visit and offer food and necessities to the deceased. Only when completing the Bo Ma ritual, the soul of the dead would be liberated and go to the world of their ancestors.

The Bo Ma ceremony is held from the third to the fifth year after the dead of a family member, depending on the family's conditions and circumstances.

The ceremony is usually held around March and April, lasts from 3 to 5 days, and draws the participation of family members as well as many local villagers. 

The offerings used in the Bo Ma worshipping ceremony include three trays of offerings including chicken, rice, wine, pig's head, banana, etc., and a boat hewn from a wood tree and beautifully carved which called Kago. Kago is a symbol of wealth that the living makes to present to the dead.

Performing ritual of placing Kago at the tomb of Raglai people

Three shamans in Bo Ma ceremony

In the Bo Ma ceremony, there are three shamans representing three parts of the body including head, body, and legs. The main shaman always stands in the middle of other two shamans, called the Yanuh jalat, who shows the way, food, drink, etc. for the death soul. He used a "magic stick" (gai toah) which was made since the funeral of the deceased.

In addition to the worshiping rituals, the Bo Ma ceremony features the cultural characteristics of the Raglai people through many art forms such as architecture, sculpture, painting, music, dance performance offered to send the dead leaving for the afterlife.

Rituals at the tomb of Raglai people

In 2018, the Bo Ma ceremony of the Raglai ethnic people in Phuoc Chien commune of Ninh Thuan province’s Thuan Bac district was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage.

Decision No.4069 by the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism dated October 30, 2018 lists Bo Ma ceremony of Raglai people in Ninh Thuan as national intangible cultural heritage